Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0097’

ABSTRACT

A new garden type  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘CIFZ0097’ particularly distinguished by its medium size plant with round plant habit, small sized decorative flowers with red flower color, and a natural season response early to mid-September.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Chrysanthemumx morifolium.

Varietal denomination: ‘CIFZ0097’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically knownas Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘CIFZ0097’.

‘CIFZ0097’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivarhas a medium sized plant with round plant habit, small sized decorativeflowers with red flower color, and a natural season response early tomid-September.

‘CIFZ0097’ originated from a cross made in September 2017 in Enkhuizen,The Netherlands. Seeds were sown in June 2018 in Gilroy, Calif. and‘CIFZ0097’ was selected from the resulting population on Nov. 5, 2018 inAlva, Fla.

The female parent was ‘CIFZ0058’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,804

TABLE 1 Characteristics of the female parent, compared to ‘CIFZ0097’:Trait ‘CIFZ0097’ ‘CIFZ0058’ Natural response: 1 week slower 1 weekfaster Blackcloth response: ½ week slower ½ week faster Flower size:Similar or bit smaller Similar or bit larger Flower color: Red PurpleFlower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Larger Smaller Plant habit:Fuller, shorter More gaps in canopy from peduncles longer pedunclesFlower longevity: Flowers last but color Flowers and color hold up fadesFlowering uniformity: More uniform Less uniform

The male parent was ‘CIFZ0060’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,512

TABLE 2 Characteristics of the male parent, compared to ‘CIFZ0097’:Trait ‘CIFZ0097’ ‘CIFZ0060’ Natural response: 1 week faster 1 weekslower Blackcloth response: ½ week slower ½ week faster Flower size:Smaller Larger Flower color: Lighter red Darker red Flower type: SimilarSimilar Plant size: Less width Wider Plant habit: Similar Similar Flowerlongevity: Similar Similar Plant strength: Stronger peduncles Weakerpeduncles

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘CIFZ0097’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection inJanuary 2019 in Alva, Fla.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in January 2019 and continuing thereafter, has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for‘CIFZ0097’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

‘CIFZ0097’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for.‘CIFZ0097’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effectivefiling date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that mayhave been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date ofthis application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘CIFZ0097’directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinctvariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘CIFZ0097’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 aclose view of flower of the new variety and in FIG. 2 a flowering plantfrom an outdoor trial.

The aforementioned photographs: FIG. 1 , as well as FIG. 2 were taken onSep. 8, 2021 both showing a plant from the same blackcloth outdoor trialin Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

These plants were about 13 weeks of age. One rooted cutting per pot hadbeen planted in a 19 cm pot, not pinched in week 23, 2021 and blackclothed from week 29. Plants started flowering the end of August 2021.

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in September,2021 on plants from the same outdoor blackcloth trial.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) 2001.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘CIFZ0097’ AND TWO MOST SIMILARVARIETIES

TABLE 3 ‘Yobonnie’, U.S. Plant Trait ‘CIFZ0097’ Pat. No. 18,886 Naturalresponse: Similar Similar Blackcloth response: ½ week slower ½ weekfaster Flower size: Smaller Larger Flower color: Lighter red Darker redFlower type: Decorative-less disc Daisy-more disc florets florets Plantsize: Similar Similar Flower longevity: Flowers lasts 20% Flowers last20% less longer time Foliage: Paler green Darker green Floweringuniformity: More uniform Less uniform

TABLE 4 ‘Granata Red’, U.S. Trait ‘CIFZ0097’ Plant Pat. No. 23,135Natural response: ½ week faster ½ week slower Blackcloth response: ½week slower ½ week faster Flower size Smaller Larger Flower color:Lighter red Darker red Flower type: Similar Similar Plant size: Smalleroverall Larger overall Plant habit: Rounder More upright Flowerlongevity: Flower color lasts Flowers last 20% 20% longer less timeFoliage: Paler green Darker green Flowering uniformity: More uniformLess uniform

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Herbaceous garden-type, stems            Upright and outwardly spreading, freely branching, strong            and moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height (above soil).—25 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—28 cm.        -   Plant width.—49 cm.-   Roots:    -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—About 4 days at about 22°            C.        -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—14-16 days at            22° C.        -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.        -   Color.—RHS N155B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 137B.        -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137C.        -   Mature leaf, color, upper surface.—RHS 139A.        -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 137A.        -   Length.—8 cm.        -   Width.—4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate, with distinct lobes.        -   Base shape.—Attenuate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—3 to 4-lobed.        -   Number of margin indentations.—Approximately 12.        -   Depth of margin indentations.—2-3 mm.        -   Leaf length terminal lobe relative to total leaf            length.—1:1/7.        -   Leaf depth lower lateral sinus.—1.0 cm.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, occasionally bifid hairs.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Bifid hairs.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 147B.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 147B.        -   Pattern of veining.—Palmate.        -   Petiole color.—RHS 147B.        -   Petiole length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—bifid hairs.        -   Presence of stipules.—Not present.-   Stem:    -   -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—8.        -   Color of stem.—RHS 147B.        -   Length of stem.—12-14 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—1.5-3.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Bifid hairs.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 147B.        -   Length of peduncle.—2.5-3.5 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Bifid hairs.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Compositae, solitary, decorative type inflorescences            borne terminally above foliage, ligulate ray florets            arranged in whorls on a capitulum giving a double flower            with some disc florets in the center of the flower.        -   Quantity of short days to flowering (response            time).—Approximately 7 weeks.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—270 with some buds            developing.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 4.5            weeks from first color.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly spicy.-   Bud (when showing color):    -   -   Color.—RHS 59A.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Width.—0.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblate.-   Immature inflorescence (at moment of opening):    -   -   Diameter.—2.4 cm.        -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS 53A.        -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS 47A.-   Mature inflorescence:    -   -   Diameter.—4.0 cm.        -   Depth.—1.5 cm.        -   Total diameter of disc.—0.2-0.5 cm.        -   Receptacle color.—RHS 138B.        -   Receptacle height.—0.3 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—1.1 cm.        -   Length of corolla tube.—0.2 cm.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Average quantity of florets.—125 in several whorls.        -   Color of florets, upper surface.—RHS 46A.        -   Color lower surface.—RHS 47A.        -   Length.—1.6 cm.        -   Width/diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded, occasionally tridentate.        -   Base shape.—Tube.        -   Margin.—Entire. Small incisions may be present at tip.        -   Margin.—Type of rolling: Flat.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillate.        -   Lower surface.—Papillate.        -   Ribs present.—No.        -   Number of keels.—0.        -   Profile at widest point.—Flat.        -   Longitudinal axis shape.—Straight.        -   Longitudinal axis curvature strength.—No curve.        -   Corolla tube shape.—Flattened.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of disk florets.—Approximately 20.        -   Width.—0.1 cm.        -   Length.—1.1 cm.        -   Colour.—RHS 17C.-   Inflorescence (at moment of senescence):    -   -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS 46A.        -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS 47A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Quantity.—22-28.        -   Color, upper surface.—RHS 138B.        -   Color, lower surface.—RHS 138A.        -   Length.—0.4 cm.        -   Width.—0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Canescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—One.        -   Length.—0.4 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 2D.        -   Style length.—0.3 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 16A.        -   Stigma shape.—Bi-parted.        -   Ovary color.—RHS 157B.        -   Ovary length.—0.2 cm.        -   Ovary width.—0.1 cm.-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—1, found on only disc florets.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS 157C.        -   Length filaments.—0.2 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS 17C.        -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.        -   Anther shape.—Oval to club shaped.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 17C.        -   Pollen amount.—Sparse.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date.        -   Hardiness.—Has not been determined to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘CIFZ0097’ substantially as illustrated and described herein.